Post-Race Analysis:
Augustin Stable’s Praise The Prince (NZ) won the $106,700 Grade
I Hard Scuffle, defeating Contrarian Stables Tres Touche by a nose
after a thrilling stretch drive. Warren Dempsey's War Talk finished
third another 1 3/4 lengths back. This was the second year in a
row that jockey Gus "Buster" Brown teamed-up with trainer
Sanna Neilson to win the first leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown
with a horse owned by Augustin Stables; those connections combined
to win the Hard Scuffle with Pompeyo (Chi) last year. The winning
time for the 2 and 1/16th mile test run over 11 fences was 3:49,
well off the course and stakes record of 3:45.1 set by Pompeyo last
year.
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War Talk leads the field over the second
fence in the Grade I Hard Scuffle run at historic Churchill
Downs.
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Still fourth as the field cleared the last hurdle, Praise The Prince
kicked into high gear through the stretch to just barely prevail
over Tres Touche in a game effort. "This is the grittiest,
hardest-trying horse I've ever ridden," said Brown after the
race. "He was stopped badly on the turn for home when Devil's
Egg came over on him, and at that point I thought we'd be lucky
just to hit the board." Praise the Prince was fifth at that
point behind War Talk, Tres Touche, Flasher and Devil's Egg. "When
I finally got him clear at the head of the lane," continued
Brown "he had four more gears and a ton of heart. He was awesome
over the last fence, and he just mowed them down on the run-in,
although we did cut it close at the end - too close."
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Praise The Prince (nearest the camera)
battles Tres Touche to the wire in the Grade I Hard Scuffle
as War Talk finishes third.
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Praise The Prince has now won his last four starts in a row over
fences and six of his last seven including two wins on the flat
last year. The 6-year-old son of Prince Of Praise (NZ) (by Crossways
(GB) has never been worse than third over hurdles, and carried the
high-weight of 157 pounds. He has now earned more than $176,000
in steeplechase races.
When asked to compare Praise The Prince to Pompeyo, Brown replied,
"That's a tough one. I'm not sure Praise The Prince is as good
as Pompeyo, but he is as determined as Pompeyo. Praise The
Prince may is only 15.3 hands tall, but he has the heart of an 18-hand
horse. When the chips are down, like they were today, he just keeps
finding more."
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Praise The Prince and jockey Gus Brown
return to the winner's circle after capturing the Grade I
Hard Scuffle.
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"It's hard to believe," said trainer Sanna Neilson about
her second Hard Scuffrle victory in a row. "I'm very fortunate
to have some very nice horses right now. I thought he was done around
the far turn when he got stopped, but he just rallied back. He's
a very courageous horse. I guess we'll go on to Pimlico if he comes
out of this race OK". The second leg of the Steeplechase Triple
Crown is the Joe Aitcheson, which will be run at Pimlico on May17th.
Contrarian Stable's Tres Touche, the youngest horse in the race
at 4-years old, tracked War Talk from the outside as the field moved
down the backstretch the last time. The son of Poles Apart (by Danzig)
made the lead after the final fence but was just nipped at the wire
by Praise The Prince. Trainer Ricky Hendricks indicated after the
race that he will point Tres Touche toward the Grade I Joe Aitcheson.
"He deserves another chance after that." said his trainer
Ricky Hendricks. "I thought we had it won until the last few
strides."
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Tres Touche (left) with David Bentley
twisting in the saddle, and Flasher (Robert Massey up) negotiate
the seventh hurdle in the Hard Scuffle.
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Warren Dempsey's War Talk (by Kingmambo) went straight
to the front and held the lead until deep stretch; he was beaten
less than 2-lengths for all the money. War Talk is conditioned Hall
of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who also sent out Peter Van Andel's
Bien Allure, a 5-year-old son of Bien Bien (by Manila) who finished
fifth.
Kinross Farm's P.C. Plod, like Praise The Prince and Flasher,
came into the Hard Scuffle having won three of his six career starts
over fences. The 5-year-old son of Pleasant Tap (by Pleasant Colony)
ran last for most of the race before rallying through the stretch
to finish fourth.
Fox Ridge Farm's Devil’s Egg ran near the back of the pack early,
made a move around the final turn but then flattened out. The 5-year-old
son of Devil's Bag is a descendant of former Broodmare-of-the-Year
Missy Baba through her daughters Toll Booth (dam of Grade I winner
and sire Plugged Nickel and Grade I winner Christiecat) and Toll
Fee. Other well-known descendants of Missy Baba include Grade I
winners and sires Lemon Drop Kid, A.P. Indy, Summer Squall and Sauce
Boat.
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Last year's leading steeplechase trainer
Tom Voss is still looking for his first victory in a Triple
Crown race.
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Claytonville Stable's Flasher, who had defeated Praise The Prince
in both of their prior meetings, faded badly through the stretch
to finish last.
Brechin City (NZ) scratched.
The Steeplechase Triple Crown is restricted to horses that did
not break their maiden over fences before March 1, 2000. The last
two legs of the Steeplechase Triple Crown will be the $100,000 Grade
I Joe Aitcheson at Pimlico on May 17th and the $100,000 Grade I
Meadowbrook at Belmont Park on June 7th.
The results of the Hard Scuffle are set forth below.
back to top
Results:
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FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
157 |
G. Brown |
S. Neilson |
Augustin Stables |
|
2
|
Tres Touche |
141 |
D. Bentley |
R. Hendriks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
3
|
War Talk |
151 |
J.W. Delozier |
J. Sheppard |
Warren R Dempsey |
|
4
|
P.C. Plod |
154 |
M. McCarron |
N. Morris |
Kinross Farm |
|
5
|
Bien Allure |
148 |
A. Kingsley |
J. Sheppard |
Peter Van Andel |
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6
|
Devil’s Egg |
148 |
C. Murphy |
T. Voss |
Fox Ridge Farm |
|
7
|
Flasher |
154 |
R. Massey |
J. Day |
Daybreak Stable |
| Winner: |
Praise the Prince (NZ) - Dark Bay or Brown
Gelding, October 3rd, 1995
Bred by Thoroughbred Investments Ltd. in NZ |
| Pedigree: |
Prince of Praise - Dynataine, by Centaine
(AUS) |
| Scratched Horses: |
Brechin City (NZ) |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
| 1 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) |
3.40 |
2.80 |
2.20 |
| 6 |
Tres Touche |
|
3.40 |
2.60 |
| 4 |
War Talk |
|
|
3.60 |
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
6-2-1
(3 correct) |
518.80 |
47,720 |
|
| $2 Daily Double |
2-1 |
12.80 |
63,644 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
1-6 |
12.60 |
169,142 |
|
| $1 Superfecta |
1-6-4-3 |
320.30 |
53,794 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
1-6-4 |
89.20 |
146,058 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 1 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) - never far back, came
outside stretch,fully extended |
| 6 |
Tres Touche - pressed pace, angled inside
leader final furlong, led, outfinished |
| 4 |
War Talk - gained lead, controlled pace till
deep stretch, faltered |
| 3 |
P. C. Plod - outrun early, bold run final
turn, loomed, flattened out |
| 2 |
Bien Allure - failed to rally, raced evenly |
| 7 |
Devil's Egg - mild bid far turn, flattened
out stretch |
| 5 |
Flasher - tracked leaders to far turn, faded,
not persevered with |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner
PRAISE THE PRINCE G, 1995 DP =
4-1-4-1-0 (10) DI = 2.33 CD = 0.80
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Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree
